Jakarta, IO – State logistics agency Bulog is ready to import 1.5 million tons of rice from China in anticipation of the drought. However, the government is still looking for the best price and opening up opportunities to import from other countries.
Bulog’s supply chain and public liason director Mokhamad Suyamto said the agency is exploring plan to import rice from China. The main consideration is that logistics costs from the country is relatively higher than other rice supplying nations such as Thailand and Vietnam, per Katadata, Wednesday (4/10).
According to Suyamto, rice imports need to be carried out to maintain the government rice reserves (CBP) level at minimum 1.2 million tons by the end of 2023. This is because Bulog will still conduct market operations and food aid to stabilize price until the end of the year.
“We are aiming for the final stock in 2023 to be 1.2 million tons, because the minimum regulation is 1.2 million tons,” said Suyamto, Wednesday (4/10).
Meanwhile, National Food Agency chairman Arief Prasetyo Adi said the government will import another 1.5 million tons of rice in December to maintain CBP at Bulog according to regulations, namely at least 1.2 million tons at any given time.
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“Basically, the government’s rice stockpile in Bulog must be above 1 million by the end of the year. For example, if it is less than 900,000 tonnes, it has to be replenished later,” said Arief.
Earlier, Bulog absorbed around 820,000 tons of locally-produced rice during this year’s main harvest season. Bulog predicts that the total rice absorbed from within and outside the country will reach 2.9 million tons this year. Meanwhile, since the beginning of the year, the total government rice released to the market has reached 2.5 million tons. (bp)